Easy Herbed Focaccia Bread Recipe (Doubles as a Pizza Crust)

Making your own bread for dinner is quite simple. Just give yourself 15 minutes of hands on time in the kitchen and you can wow your family with a special treat!

I like to make homemade focaccia bread with our Italian dinner nights. It is a perfect side! I also usually make a dipping sauce to go with it (instead of a topping like butter). If I have fresh basil, I will make a “nut-free” pesto dip, or olive oil with crushed spices is fantastic, marinara is good too! I have also purchased a couple of dipping sauces for cheap with sun dried tomatoes. So I have quite a fun variety of dipping sauces, but a few of my family members just like to eat it as it is too as it is so good!

I use a KitchenAid Mixer which saves me tons of time and effort as it does most of the work…. but you can do it by hand too which just a bit more effort. As far as the pan, you can use any shape and type. Metal square cake pans works fine! I happen to have a round pizza stone that I love, but it will not make a difference (the stones are expensive, but I have had this one for probably 10+ years!).

Here’s the ingredients needed.

1 cup of pretty warm water

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1 packet active dry yeast or 2 1/4 teaspoons

You will then want 2 teaspoons of green dried herbs – so I usually include equal amounts of dried basil, oregano, parsley and thyme or 2 teaspoons of italian seasoning.

1/2 teaspoon of Rosemary

1 Tablespoon of vegetable oil

For the topping:

Olive Oil (usually about a tablespoon – enough to brush all over the top)

Parmesan Cheese (again, enough to sprinkle on top to desired likeness)

Fennel Seed (sprinkle sparingly on top)

To make:

Combine the warm water, flour, yeast, salt and sugar in a bowl or in the bowl of your mixer. Just stir until blended and then let it set for about 15 minutes until bubbles form.

Then start the mixer on low speed and add the spices and vegetable oil.

Mix/ knead until the dough forms a ball that has elasticity whether with the mixer or by hand.

Form the dough into a ball and set in a greased bowl turning a couple of times until the ball is coated in the “spray” grease. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and let set in a warm place until it doubles in size (about 20- 30 minutes). I just use the mixer bowl for this… so I take the dough out and the dough hook and spray the bowl and put it back in for the rising!

Pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees

Coat the bottom of the pan in olive oil (and sprinkle any spices if you want)

Once the dough rises, punch it down and then turn it over onto the pan you will cook it on. Using a hand or roller, form the dough to the shape of the pan.

Then once in place, using your knuckles, “punch” the dough to make the bubble shape.

Then go over the dough a second time with a fork to put tiny holes in the dough.

Brush the dough with the olive oil, then sprinkle with parmesan cheese and fennel seed to liking.

Bake for 13-15 minutes until golden brown

Cut how every you want (I usually cut into strips) and serve. It can be served warm or room temperature and both ways taste great!

Here's an easy homemade Focaccia bread that will also double as a pizza crust!

Ingredients

Here's the ingredients needed.

1 cup of pretty warm water

2¾ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1 packet active dry yeast or 2¼ teaspoons

You will then want 2 teaspoons of green dried herbs - so I usually include equal amounts of dried basil, oregano, parsley and thyme or 2 teaspoons of italian seasoning.

½ teaspoon of Rosemary

1 Tablespoon of vegetable oil

For the topping:

Olive Oil (usually about a tablespoon - enough to brush all over the top)

Parmesan Cheese (again, enough to sprinkle on top to desired likeness)

Fennel Seed (sprinkle sparingly on top)

Instructions

Combine the warm water, flour, yeast, salt and sugar in a bowl or in the bowl of your mixer. Just stir until blended and then let it set for about 15 minutes until bubbles form.

Then start the mixer on low speed and add the spices and vegetable oil.

Mix/ knead until the dough forms a ball that has elasticity whether with the mixer or by hand.

Form the dough into a ball and set in a greased bowl turning a couple of times until the ball is coated in the "spray" grease. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and let set in a warm place until it doubles in size (about 20- 30 minutes). I just use the mixer bowl for this... so I take the dough out and the dough hook and spray the bowl and put it back in for the rising!

Pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees

Coat the bottom of the pan in olive oil (and sprinkle any spices if you want)

Once the dough rises, punch it down and then turn it over onto the pan you will cook it on. Using a hand or roller, form the dough to the shape of the pan.

Then once in place, using your knuckles, "punch" the dough to make the bubble shape.

Then go over the dough a second time with a fork to put tiny holes in the dough.

Brush the dough with the olive oil, then sprinkle with parmesan cheese and fennel seed to liking.

Bake for 13-15 minutes until golden brown

Cut how every you want (I usually cut into strips) and serve. It can be served warm or room temperature and both ways taste great!

Comments

Do you really add all the flour before letting it sit for 15 m.? I tried this and the dough was pretty much finished–no way for bubbles to form. Thanks. The perfect accompaniment to tonight’s dinner and so easy. It smells delicious, but haven’t tasted it yet.

Well, you can just let the salt, yeast and water set – but I found a shortcut in gently mixing the flour and letting it set, then kneading it (by hand or with the mixer). The bubbles are very slight this way – essentially just small air escape holes 🙂 Adding the flour in at the beginning saves me time!

My husband and I recently ate a cafe nearby that served a focaccia bread pesto chicken sandwich. I was sure I could make it at home and I did! But the bread was very expensive to buy at the store. I am so excited to have this recipe!

To make the sandwich, I sliced the bread (carefully) in half to make thinner slices for sandwich bread. I spread pesto on both sides, added cooked chicken and provolone cheese. I then heated it in the microwave for a just a little bit. That’s it! 🙂